Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Agger: Reds moving on up; Mata upbeat

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger believes the club is heading in the right direction and has targeted two wins from the team's two remaining Premier League games - starting with tonight's FA Cup final rematch against Chelsea.

The Blues beat the Reds 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday on their way to a seventh FA Cup triumph, and Agger wants his side to move on from that setback by picking up three points to aid their quest for a seventh-place finish ahead of local rivals Everton.

"There's not much more to say right now. We are all just so disappointed," he told the club's official website.

"We have got two games left in the season and we have got to try and win them. That is how we will start to move forward.''

Despite the club's failure to add to their Carling Cup success earlier in the campaign, the Denmark international insists there are signs of progress.

"Can we challenge the top teams next season? Yes, of course. We have moved forward a lot this season but right now the only feelings are of disappointment,'' he added.

A late goal from former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson secured a 2-1 win for Liverpool at Stamford Bridge back in November and another victory would condemn the west London side to sixth spot in the league.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is likely to hand a start to Andy Carroll following his goal after coming off the bench on Saturday.

The 61-year-old had some tough decisions to make regarding his selection ahead of the final but he praised the reaction of the unfortunate players who did not make the team.

"His (Carroll's) attitude coming on as a substitute was exemplary,'' the Scot said. "He lifted it. Dirk (Kuyt) - great attitude as well."

The performances of some of Dalglish's players at Wembley were scrutinised in the aftermath of their defeat but he is hoping those individuals benefited from the big-game experience.

"You would hope so," he said. "The last half-hour, they got more belief in themselves.

"It is a big step up to get to the level that Chelsea play at from the level we have been playing at. But we gave it a good go in the last half-hour."

Meanwhile, Juan Mata has urged Chelsea not to throw in the towel on their top-four dream.

The Blues' hopes of finishing third or fourth looked doomed after last Wednesday's defeat to Newcastle that left them four points adrift with just two games remaining.

But the Magpies' loss to Manchester City and Tottenham's draw at Aston Villa on Sunday - coupled with Arsenal's failure to beat Norwich on Saturday - kept alive sixth-placed Chelsea's slim hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League via the Premier League.

They must beat FA Cup final opponents Liverpool for the second time in four days tonight to stand any chance of overhauling two of the three teams directly above them.

Mata said of the clash at Anfield: "We have to win and still believe in playing the Champions League next year."

Mata insisted there was no chance of him suffering burnout ahead of what could be more overtime for the winger.

The 24-year-old had looked set to be handed a well-earned day off at Anfield following Chelsea's FA Cup final triumph, having been through a punishing run of fixtures.

Caretaker-manager Roberto Di Matteo admitted after Saturday's Wembley win that his line-up tonight would depend on the outcome of Sunday's games, implying that were a top-four finish mathematically impossible he would make wholesale changes with the May 19 Champions League final in mind.

But he would have been pondering today whether to field his strongest possible side - which would surely contain Mata, who is the only outfield player to have featured in all 18 of his matches at the helm.

After winning the FA Cup in his maiden season in English football on Saturday, exhaustion was the furthest thing from Mata's mind.

"I have plenty of energy left," said the Spain star.

"It is a long season and my first in England, but the benefits of winning easily outweigh the fatigue."

Tonight's fixture is arguably one of the toughest Chelsea could have faced after beating Liverpool on Saturday.

Kenny Dalglish's men will be desperate for revenge and to make amends both for their Wembley defeat and one of their most miserable seasons at Anfield in the club's history.

But Frank Lampard insisted this evening's game would have been harder if Chelsea had lost on Saturday.

"Less difficult than losing, without a doubt," he said, referring to the respective confidence both sides now have as a result.

Defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill are both set to miss tonight's game due to hamstring injuries, with midfielders John Obi Mikel and Raul Meireles also sidelined for the Blues.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/agger_reds_moving_on_up_mata_upbeat/10743308

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